Pick Me Up Playlist

I was tagged in this a loooong time ago, but I'm sat here listening to my 'Your Top Songs 2018' on Spotify and it's making me so happy. I have written before about how good music can be for our mental health:

The Rules

#2 Tag the blogger who nominated you - I know I was nominated by the lovely Chelsea & Brian who no longer blog so unfortunately I can't tag them but they're both fab. I could have been tagged by others, but it's been almost 4 months - please forgive me if I can't remember!

#3 Mention how music helps your mental health.

#4 List 10 songs that you would consider to be a part of your 'Pick Me Up Playlist' (Optional: mention a little bit why each song is on your list).

#5 Tag 10 other bloggers to join in with the 'Pick Me Up Playlist' Challenge.

How music helps my mental health

A study was completed and found that Dopamine is a chemical that releases in our brain at peaks of enjoyment when listening to music. There's many studies that describe how music affects our minds positively and helps to improve ourselves, for an example ~

It can improve your cognitive performance - it is suggested that if you have music on in the background whilst doing another activity it can improve your performance on the task. I suppose it's a little like, going out for a run, if you then have earphones in listening to music, you may find that it really helps.

It can help reduce stress - I know that for me when I'm feeling stressed and upset, listening to some music I really like ~ or listening to a Pick me up playlist (see what I did there), really helps to improve my mood. Even if it's just for that short time span, at least I have that moment to feel good again.

It can help you to sleep better - I always struggle to sleep, I'll get into bed at a good time but it probably takes me about two hours to get to sleep. Some of the things I use to help me includes music, I have a few apps that play calm music, so I play these and slowly drift off to sleep.

There's lots more points explaining how music can help with mental health on my post linked above. I listen to music a lot, may that be whilst I'm at home chilling, whilst walking somewhere, while at work, or in a pub or a bar. There's so many different types of music out there, that can affect your mind differently. I love music that you can sing-a-long to, I love chill music that makes me feel calm and relaxed, I love music that is upbeat and positive, I don't know if anyone else gets this feeling, but when I go to gigs and watch music live (especially if it's a band/artist I love), I get major goosebumps and I feel so happy, and the buzz afterwards is an amazing feeling. Then you go home and you just wish you could turn back time and re-live the moment over and over!

So without further ado, here is my pick me up playlist, some aren't probably what you'd call 'happy songs' but all of these I love to sing-a-along too, and I really enjoy them. Let me know in the comments below if you love the same songs that I do!

I know the rules only stated to name 10 songs but I've listed 13 because I had to have Ben Howard and Scouting For Girls in there. I've seen both of them live and have absolutely loved them both for different reasons. Scouting For Girls is just one of those feel-good bands that you and your friends just go crazy and sing your heart out too, and Ben Howard is just amazingly talented - his music now is very experimental I guess you could say, when I saw him the first time you could easily sing along with him and just really relax to his songs, his newer music is more about the sound and the instruments, it was pretty special seeing him back in January.

I won't go into all of them otherwise I'd probably end up writing an essay, but a lot of these I'd probably put into a chill playlist also, Paolo Nutini is just great, I don't think there's ever a moment that I don't feel like listening to his music. Funny story, but the reason why I've added Breaking Benjamin Ashes of Eden is because back in the day (like a few years ago) I'd walk to/from work and have this playing in my earphones and I always felt like I was in a movie or something. Do any of you get that feeling sometimes when there's a song playing and you're in a certain scene (like sitting in the car or something with the window down when it's sunny and warm, and the wind blows your hair -- and then you just start making this movie in your head? Just me...?

Linkin Park is another band where it brings back a lot of memories for me. When I was younger as a family on long drives we'd have the CD on in the car (back in the days where CDs in cars were the thing) and we would all be singing along to it - a favourite of ours was In The End, and to this day I still know it word for word and I love it. My Chemical Romance.. I was a MASSIVE fan when I was younger lol, if you'd ask me what is or was my favourite genre I honestly don't think I could pick one, as you can see my playlist there's quite a mix there.

This was such a lovely post! I only know the song by Ariana Grande though, but I'll definitely check out all those others you mentioned. You're not alone with the movie thing, I have the same! Sometimes I feel like I'm in a movie or in a music video for the song, especially when it's a sad song and I'm in the train staring through the window 😂 Thank you for the tag too, will be posting this as next week's post!

Omg I love this because Sweet Disposition is one of my favourite pick-me-up songs it's so incredible. Music has always helped my mental health so much and it's so great to see how it has helped others too x

Oh my goodness! A lot of your songs that you pick bring back memories esp with Linkin Park, MCR and Breaking Benjamin!! I also really like Sweet disposition. Music has so much power to get you into the mood and relieve stress and help you sleep! I love listening to piano or jazz or instrumental whenever I'm studying to help me focus! Thanks for sharing girl! xx

SO many good songs here! I love how music can impact on our emotions and how different people attach different feelings to different songs. It's so powerful! I haven't heard Gold on the Ceiling for so long, even reading it took me back a bit x

Ahh glad you like some of the songs! I love that also, when I was writing the post and talking about the memories that I attached the songs to, I found it so interesting because it's not something you often sit and think about! Loveee that song it'so good! xx

Chloe this post was so fun! I'll never get tired of Elvis Presley- Can't Help Falling in Love, it's so gorgeous! Music is truly soothing for the mind, body and spirit. Like you said, music improves your cognitive thinking. I like listening to music while writing blog posts, keeps me inspired and contributes to post ideas :) Thanks for tagging me in the list :) Working on this post ASAP!

Thanks for tagging me, Chlo, maybe now I'll finally get around to doing this tag, haha! Music is such a help when I'm having a down day and you've picked out some great songs! I love Elvis Presley and Paolo Nutini! I can't listen to music before going to sleep, though, the earphone always hurt my ears and I wake up an hour later with the strangest song playing, haha! Lovely post :) xx

No worries! I was the exact same haha took me a good while to get this done, although I'm always slow with tag posts! Oh yeah I don't have earphones in when I'm in bed because it hurts me my ears as well! Thank you xx

I love seeing the type of playlists that people come up with! I totally agree with these points about how music helps :). YESSS on improving your performance! As long as the music is a background noise, work can easily get done, hehe. OOOH I really like Ariana's One Last Time! Oh man, MCR is a name I haven't heard of in ages! Thanks for sharing this playlist :).

Music is such a powerful force for our mental health, a language in and of itself that connects with us on such a deep and meaningful level. Thank you for sharing your list - there are some songs I listen to all the time and a couple that I need to pull up and listen to again I think!